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Since beginning of Windows Insider program we geeks have had a possibility to convert the ESD file of new upgrade build to an ISO image (tutorial). With it we could create DVD / USB install media to be used in clean, in-place and repair installs.

Since Windows 10 Insider Build 14986 Microsoft has started to use new Unified Update Platform (UUP), which no longer offers the install.esd file (read more in this post). Through some registry modifications users can at least for now disable UUP and get ESD version of the build upgrade, but it seems that this option might not be available in the future.

UUP is of course a positive change. It is differential, scanning user's existing Windows 10 installation only downloading and installing those system files that have changed. In ESD upgrade full Windows system (all system files and native applications) were replaced, with the same file or app version even in case the new build did not include a newer updated version. Regardless if a system file, component or application was updated, ESD upgrade replaced it. This caused download size to be bigger, in addition to longer time required for upgrade because full Windows was downloaded and everything overwritten with every upgrade.

However, the possibility to create an ISO image is, has been and will be important to us Insiders. Microsoft has usually released an ISO when a build has been released to Insider Slow Ring, but we Fast Ring users do need an option to create our own install media.

This tutorial will show how to do that, how to create an ISO image out of a UUP upgraded Windows 10. The tool also works with upgrade files downloaded with UUP Dump. This quote is from Ten Forums video thread, in case you do not know what UUP Dump is:

Kari said:

New video: UUPDump - Get Windows Insider Fast ring ISO Fast and Easy!

I've been using UUP Dump Miniserver since the first version was released in early October to get Fast Ring ISO images for those editions and languages I do not have currently installed when new builds have been released. It is a fast and reliable tool which I wholeheartedly recommend.

This video shows how to download and use UUP Dump Miniserver to get latest build upgrade files downloaded and create an ISO image.

Notice please: When Windows Update has finished downloading the UUP upgrade, the files needed to make the ISO are stored in a subfolder in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download.

These files will in some cases be removed when upgrade is done. If you want to make an ISO for future needs, you have to do it before starting the upgrade process itself, after downloading the upgrade files but before clicking Restart now button!

The installer is at the moment not digitally signed. I am working for it. Anyway, it is totally safe as you can see at Virus Total, only two obscure AV tools flagging it. That is of course false positive, all other AV and malware tools flag it as safe. See by yourself: VirusTotal

1.2) Run installer, click More info when Windows Smart Screen tells file is not signed, click Run anyway:

1.3) Accept license, select where to install (default: C.\UUPtoISO):

Follow on-screen instructions to finish setting up UUPtoISO

1.4) You will find UUPtoISO in C:\UUPtoISO folder (default). To uninstall simply delete the folder[B]

Note

Please do not forget to read the Credits & Quick Start PDF file in the folder where you installed UUPtoISO!

2.1) Open File Explorer, browse to C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder. It contains several subfolders named with a long hexadecimal string.

2.2) In File Explorer, search for ext:esd to find all ESD files. Only one of the subfolders of C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download contains ESD files (extension .esd). So called express UUP upgrade has only one ESD file, canonical UUP upgrades can have 10+ ESD files. Regardless of how many ESD files your search finds, they are all stored in same subfolder, the one containing necessary files to make an ISO image

Usually upgrades are differential (express) only containing one ESD file as in this example. Search for ESD files finds one file in folder staring with 5721f7. Right click it and select Open file location to open folder we need:

In this example upgrade has been canonical containing 13 ESD files, all in same folder starting with a526e. Right click any of them and select Open file location:

I will remove this notice when Microsoft has fixed the bug in coming builds.

3.3) The information option (#3) is useful to check that ISO will be what you expect:

Press any key to return to main menu

3.4) Press 1 or 2 depending on if you want to make an ISO image or install.wim ​file, the process starts. Be patient, it will take several minutes

3.5) When done, ISO or install.wim can be found in folder where you installed UUPtoISO:

That's it. You can now start upgrade or repair install using your ISO. To clean install Windows 10, ISO must first be burned to a DVD or USB flash drive (tutorial)

Kari

UUPtoISO Changelog & credits:

Ten Forums UUPtoISO tool is based on UUP decrypter script (uup-converter-wimlib-14) by abbodi1406 and rgadguard at MDL. WimLib by Eric Biggers. All credits belong to them, I have only done some minor edits and the installer.

Version 1. > Batch file decrypter

Version 2.0 > Added an installer

Version 2.1 > Batch compiled to an application (.exe)

Version 2.2 > Updated installer, shortened code by removing unnecessary elements, corrected some spelling in prompts shown to end user

Version 2.2.0.1 > Only one minor change, replaced a very pixelated low res Ten Forums logo in installer's last prompt with a high res image

Followed this tutorial in 14986 in Hyper-V the updated. Tried to find the ESDs in the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Downloads folder BEFORE restart. They are not there.

Just to check that I understood you correctly: You have 14986, UUP is not disabled in registry, no install.esd file in BT folder, 15002 upgrade downloaded and Windows is ready to start upgrade showing Restart now button, yet no upgrade files in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Downloads?

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Just to check that I understood you correctly: You have 14986, UUP is not disabled in registry, no install.esd file in BT folder, 15002 upgrade downloaded and Windows is ready to start upgrade showing Restart now button, yet no upgrade files in C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Downloads?

Yes.

When I checked it was updating to 15002 again. ESDs are there now!

Also from other thread:

I installed 14986 in Hyper-V using the ISO from Kari's Tutorial to make a bootable ISO using a WIM file.

After the installing screen it continued on to the desktop WITHOUT asking for any choices. I then changed to*my MS Account and activated it.

Downloading 15002 now.

EDIT:

I've successfully made an ISO of 15002 using*Kari's Tutorial. I the installed it in Hyper-V.

Last edited by fjk61011; 11 Jan 2017 at 10:04.

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